Our Academy

[ReebokTrotter]

WTF is happening with our academy ? It costs over a million pound a year to run and yet the last player to make it into our first team was Nicky Hunt back in 2003.

Who is running the show there ? We are spending a fortune on loan players so if the Academy can't produce any talent what is the point of it ?

Everyone goes on about Josh Vela but I watched him in a pre season friendly and I wasn't all that impressed. The two that have stood out for me are Riley and O' Halloran. They both played against Macclesfield in the League Cup and didn't let the side down.

If we never give any of these talented youngsters a chance how the hell are we ever going to make any progress ? Rooney broke through the Everton ranks at sixteen.

If we are going to get relegated then let's at least give some of these youngsters a chance.

[xmiles]

I agree. Could Riley be worse than Steinsson?

[bolton78]

We keep selling them,any half decent player gets sold.arsenal bought one off our kids last month for half a million according to some one at work

[Big_Sharps]

Is it a requirement to have one because we might aswell fcuking bin having one off giving how fruitful it has been.  We are always going to struggle to bring in the best talent given the area we are in

[aarons2009]

I still am not convinced by us selling danny ward to be honest, I suppose the staff must have seen something to suggest he isn't good enough but I would have liked to see him given a chance.

[ReebokTrotter]

I still am not convinced by us selling danny ward to be honest, I suppose the staff must have seen something to suggest he isn't good enough but I would have liked to see him given a chance.

I agree. He was showing some promise. It's no good saying that all these academy players are not good enough for the first team after some of the piss poor performances we have witnessed this season. How can they possibly be any worse ?

[aarons2009]

I agree. He was showing some promise. It's no good saying that all these academy players are not good enough for the first team after some of the piss poor performances we have witnessed this season. How can they possibly be any worse ?

I posted a thread on a huddersfield message board last night about ward to see how he was going on and I was surprised with the reaction.

Most were saying in no uncertain terms that Ward has gone completley off the boil, banged lots of weight on and seems to be really lacking confidence.

[Natasha Whittam]

The academy is a complete waste of time and money. Any decent kid will be on the radar of the big clubs.

Bin the academy and put more time and effort into the reserve side. It's a fcuking disgrace that half the squad refuse to play for the reserves and the club lets them get away with it.

[Big_Sharps]

I posted a thread on a huddersfield message board last night about ward to see how he was going on and I was surprised with the reaction.

Most were saying in no uncertain terms that Ward has gone completley off the boil, banged lots of weight on and seems to be really lacking confidence.

So Owen was right to cash in then? It was mentioned a while back that he seemingly likes the luxuries of being well paid to play Football rather than trying to make his way in the game.

[ReebokTrotter]

The big striker Tom Eaves who put three past us for Oldham in pre season seemed to be coming along until he broke his leg. I know it's no excuse but I can never remember us having such a catalogue of injuries to key players all at the same time.

[bwfcbob123]

Riley sounds promising, and tbh I would rather have him than Steinsson, and those two are our only options at the moment, as Wheater proved against Blackburn that he can't play at RB. We should play our young players more, because if they don't get the chance they aren't going to break through. Ferguson seems to be good at playing them at just the right age, though I don't think Coyle is able to do this.

[Natasha Whittam]

Riley sounds promising, and tbh I would rather have him than Steinsson, and those two are our only options at the moment, as Wheater proved against Blackburn that he can't play at RB. We should play our young players more, because if they don't get the chance they aren't going to break through. Ferguson seems to be good at playing them at just the right age, though I don't think Coyle is able to do this.

In the modern game the smaller (and crapper) clubs aren't going to risk young players in the first team.

It's all about now, Coyle isn't thinking about 3 years down the line.

[bwfcbob123]

In the modern game the smaller (and crapper) clubs aren't going to risk young players in the first team.

It's all about now, Coyle isn't thinking about 3 years down the line.

Riley can't be much worse than Steinsson though, he seems to have a half way line fetish. At least three goals we have conceded this season, he has been nowhere to be seen. If Riley is doing crap, he could always be substituted (like Steinsson was against Chelsea).

[Natasha Whittam]

Riley can't be much worse than Steinsson though, he seems to have a half way line fetish. At least three goals we have conceded this season, he has been nowhere to be seen. If Riley is doing crap, he could always be substituted (like Steinsson was against Chelsea).

You need to give players at least 4-5 games, what good is giving him 60 minutes and then taking him off?

[bwfcbob123]

You need to give players at least 4-5 games, what good is giving him 60 minutes and then taking him off?

What I mean is, if Riley has a shocker and is a liability, then take him off. If he isn't, we can keep him on.

[Le God]

Agree with Nat; if we don't use it? Why have it?

the debt is piling up and we could save the 2 million a year that we totally waste on useless kids.

all the talented footballers play for the big clubs, or will play for them.

it'll never change until the FA grows some balls introduces a nationalised academy and starts a draft system.

[Natasha Whittam]

What I mean is, if Riley has a shocker and is a liability, then take him off. If he isn't, we can keep him on.

Bob, just because some kid plays crap for 60 minutes doesn't mean he won't go on to be a world-beater. But if you take him off after 60 minutes you risk denting his confidence for good.

You stick to standing in the corner and I'll do the management posts.

[ReebokTrotter]

You stick to standing in the corner and I'll do the management posts.

A tad harsh  that last sentence Tash, considering we all seem to be in agreement on the subject. You are a very hard woman at times.

[Keegan]

Tom Eaves is back in light training - apparently he can kick a football now. I follow some of the younger Bolton players and either they are really restricted to what they can say or they don't give a rat's ass how poorly we do. We get thumped in one game, I see "Check out my new car!" lose the other, "I don't like how Paranormal Activity 3 ended..." lose the third "watching 'Africa United'! Starts promising!"

At this moment, no matter how counter-productive it may be seen to be, a Bartonesque "we were shite today and we really need to pull our fingers out" would be a refreshing change.

[Weststander]

Our last few managers haven't wanted to give younger players a chance. Playing a couple, especially at full back might just revitalise us.

[Natasha Whittam]

Tom Eaves is back in light training - apparently he can kick a football now. I follow some of the younger Bolton players and either they are really restricted to what they can say or they don't give a rat's ass how poorly we do. We get thumped in one game, I see "Check out my new car!" lose the other, "I don't like how Paranormal Activity 3 ended..." lose the third "watching 'Africa United'! Starts promising!"

You really need a hobby.

[Keegan]

I do - I'm actually a female who lives in Bradshaw. My hobby is posting here and pretending to be a male who lives in Jamaica. What's yours?

[Natasha Whittam]

I do - I'm actually a female who lives in Bradshaw. My hobby is posting here and pretending to be a male who lives in Jamaica. What's yours?

Not dissimilar in truth.

It still disturbs me that you follow some teenage chavs. Seriously, there are better things to do with your time.

[Keegan]

This is true - I wanted to get a feel for the inner workings of the club, but usually there is nothing worth typing, let alone reading. I just haven't gotten around to unfollowing these overpaid ponces. I did manage to unfollow SKD's wife, so that's a start. Holden is on a beauty/popularity contest all day and Tuncay occasionally said something in English. I just don't get enough info on the club being as far removed as I am, so I grasped at straws.

[Natasha Whittam]

I just don't get enough info on the club being as far removed as I am, so I grasped at straws.

Football is about matchday, you really shouldn't care what any of these ponces have to say. Get on a plane and fly to Bolton for Sunday's game. I guarantee you'll never care what Holden & co say ever again.